Sick hoaxer threatens to blow up high school just hours after Manchester attack

An investigation is underway after a sick hoaxer threatened to blow up a Scottish high school — just hours after the terror attack in Manchester.

Parents, pupils and staff were left sickened by the bomb hoax early on Tuesday morning.

Youngsters remained in their classes at Barrhead High School, East Renfrewshire, as police officers carried out a two-hour search.

The hoax threat came only hours after a devastating attack at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester which claimed the lives of at least 22 people, including children.

Robbie McLaughlin, 16, was sitting a Higher biology exam when the incident happened.

He said: “It is really shocking that this has happened so soon after the attack in Manchester.

“People in the school were really concerned and it’s horrible that someone would do something like this.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland confirmed the bomb hoax took place at around 9.55am and that the person responsible has been identified.

She said: “Police are treating as malicious a threatening communication sent to Barrhead High School, in Aurs Road.

“Police carried out a search of the school and nothing suspicious was found. The school was not evacuated.”

An East Renfrewshire council spokesman added: “A malicious communication was received by one of our schools and police were contacted in line with our procedures.

“This was thoroughly investigated and was shown to be unfounded. Pupils remain in class as normal.”